Driving means for slicing machine knives



Jam, 2, '1934. w. A. VAN BERKEL 1,941,519

DRIVING MEANS FOR SLICING MACHINE KNIVES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 2, 1934. w A, VAN BERKEL 1,941,519

DRIVING MEANS FOR SLICING MACHINE KNIVES Filed April 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ZZ jf j y WMM d. WM,

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Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNIi'E STA'EES PATENT OFFICE DRIVING MEANS FR SLICING MACHINE KNIVES Application April 3, 1930, Serial No. 441,207, and in Germany April 5, 1929 Claims.

5 mum width, then only a small part of the stroke is utilized when substances of a lesser width are being out. If means are provided for varying the length of the stroke of the knife, generally the number of strokes per minute remains the same and consequently the cutting action of the knife is slower and the same amount of time is consumed as would be necessary with a substance of maximum Width.

One object of this invention therefore is to provide a machine in which the most economical use is made of the movements of the slicing knife.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for varying the length of the stroke of the knife and for simultaneously varying the number of strokes per unit time.

Another object of this invention is to provide a slicing machine in which the speed of movea ment of the slicing knife can be varied simultaneously with an increase or decrease in the length of the path of movement of the knife.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine in which the lineal speed of the knife and the length of the path of the knife may be varied simultaneously.

Another object of this invention is to increase or decrease the speed of movement given to the knife as the length of the path of movement of said knife is decreased or increased respectively.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of means for effecting the aforesaid changes while the machine is in motion, and I have provided readily accessible means for this urpose and means which operates smoothly so that even though the slicing knife is in motion the variations are so gradual that the changes do not cause vibrations. For instance, with a device made according to my invention I may be slicing a substance which is larger at one end than at the other, and after I have cut the larger part of the substance I can gradually decrease the amplitude of the oscillations without stopping the machine and thus vary the number of oscillations and thereby change the cutting speed for the slices at the small end of the substance.

Other objects of this invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 represents an elevational view of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 with a part ofthe driving means in section;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; 60

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on th line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 5V shows another embodiment of my invention.

The embodiment of the invention which I have shown in the drawings comprises a frame work 1 in the form of a bridge and this frame work is adapted to support the knife and the operating means therefor. AV table 2 has a feed plate 3 thereon adapted to be connected to the feed screw 4 by a suitable nut (not shown) or in any other manner which is well known in the art to which this invention pertains. The feed screw is provided with a ratchet wheel 5 at one end thereof and a pawl 6, pivoted cn an arm '7,V concentrically mounted with respect to the feed screw, is adapted to actuateV the ratchet 5, and the arm 7 is connected by means of the link 8 to one'arm of the bell crank lever 9 pivoted at 10. The other arm of the bell crank lever carries a rollerv 11 adapted to engage the cam surface 12 on the rotatable member 13. The cam has a portion 14 thereof at a greater distance from the shaft 15 than any other point on the cam and when the roller is engaged bythis portion S5 14, the bell crank 9 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction so as to lift the link 8 and rotate the feed screw 4 by means of the paWl 6 and. ratchet 5, thus feeding the feed plate 3 towards the cutting plane of the knife. Y

The frame 1 also carries a Xed sleeve 16 in the bearing 17 and' this sleeve has an outer hollow portion 18 which encloses the sprocket 19 on the shaft 20 which is rotatable within the sleeve 16. The portion 18 also has'a bearing portion 21 at the outer extremity thereof and this .forms a bearing for the arm 22, the plate 23 the bearing 2l. 100

The arm 22 also carries a rotatable shaft 25 which has a sprocket 26 secured thereto. A chain 27 is train-ed over the sprockets 19 and 26 to form a driving connection therebetween. The shaft 20 is secured to the rotatable member 28 which has an internal gear 29 formed as an integral part thereof. The member 28 also has the beveled surfaces 30 for a purpose which will appear later. A motor 31 is secured to the bracket 32 and has a gear 33 on the rotor shaft meshing with the internal gear 29. Rotation o-f the motor 31 causes rotation of the member 28 and also rotation of the shaft 20, the latter rotating the knife 34 on the shaft 25 through the sprockets 19 and 26 and chain 27. The rotation of the knife about its own axis remains constant or proportional to the speed of rotation of the motor.

The arm 22 has a pair of bosses 35 in which the adjusting screw 36 is rotatably mounted. A hand wheel 37 on the end of the adjusting screw permits the operator to rotate the adjusting screw. The nut 38 engages the threads on the adjusting screw and has a link 39 pivo-ted thereto at 40. The other end of the link 39 is pivoted at 41 to a crank arm 42 on the shaft l5. The member 13, cam 12 and crank arm 42 are all mounted on the shaft 15 and are adapted to be rotated in unison with each other. The crank arm 42 is adjustably held on the shaft 15 by means of the split collar 43 which is provided with the fastening means 44 for securely holding the split collar on the shaft. This latter means enables one to adjust the angular' position of the crank 42 to thereby predetermine time at which the feed of the table will take place with respect to the reciprocation of the arm 22.

It will be seen that with the mechanism just described the rotation of the shaft 15 will cause the link 39 to reciprocate the arm 22. The angular displacement of the arm 22 will be determined by the distance between the pivotal point 40 and the center of rotation of the shaft 24. When the hand portion 37 is operated to move the nut 38 towards the shaft 24, the angular displacement of the arm 22 is increased and likewise an adjustment of the nut 38 away from the shaft 24 will decrease the angular displacement of the arm 22 in view of the fact that the crank arm 42 has a fixed throw. 1t is necessary to provide some means for varying the number of oscillations per unit of time when the amplitude is varied so as to maintain the proper cutting speed for the knife. For this purpose I provide the following mechanism: A bracket 45 is secured to the frame l by means of the bolt 46 and has a pair of supports 47 rotatably mounted thereon. These supports have the pins 48 integral therewith extending through the bracket 45 as best illustrated in Fig. 4. Arms 49 are secured to the pins 48 and links 58 connect the arms 50 with the arm 51 which is one part of the bell crank lever 52 pivoted at 53. A spring 54 normally urges the arm 51 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. The spring 54 abuts against the lug 55 on the frame and also the arm 51.

spindles 55 are secured to the support 47 and the spherical members 56 are rotatably supported by means ofthe antifriction bearings 57, and these bearings are maintained in spaced relation to the supports 47 by means of the collar 58. The member 13 is provided with bevele edges 59 and these edges are opposed to beveled edges 30 on the member 28. The spherical members 56 have the centers of curvature thereof along the axes of rotation of the support 47 and have their spherical surfaces in contact with the beveled surfaces 30 and 59 as best illustrated in Fig. 2. Since the spherical members 56 are free to rotate about the spindles 55, they act as idlers between the member 28 and the member 13. When the member 28 is rotated by means of the motor 31, movement is imparted to the member 13 through the intermediary of the spherical member 56.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2, the points of contact between the beveled surfaces 30 and the spherical members are the same distance away from the axes of the spindles 55 as are the points of contact between the beveled surfaces 59 and the spherical members. However, assume that the arm 51 of the bell crank 52 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, this movement of the arm 51 would cause the supports 47 to be rotated and as a result the spherical members 56 would be moved into the dotted line positions 66. In these positions the distances from the points of contact between the beveled surfaces 59 and the spherical surfaces 56 to the spindles 55 are less than the distances from the points of contact of the beveled surfaces 30 and the spherical members 56 to the spindles 5o. Therefore, when the members 56 are rotated by means of the member 28, the member 13 will be rotated at a lesser speed proportionally to the speed of rotation of the member 28 than when the parts are in the full line position shown in Fig. 2. Similarly when the spherical members 56 are moved to the dotted line positions 61, the speed of rotation of the member 13 relatively to the member 28 is increased.

The means which I have just described accomplishes the purpose of a change speed mechanism and permits me to regulate the speed of the member 13 without varying the speed of the motor or without varying the amplitude of the oscillating movement of the arm 22. However, it is desired to have the speed of the member 13 so regulated as to be varied simultaneously with the amplitude of oscillation of the arm 22.

This means is accomplished automatically in the following manner: A sector plate 62 carried by pins 63 extending through openings 64 in the arm 22 is interposed between the arm 65 of the bell crank lever 52 and the forward edge 66 of an arm 67 pivoted at 68 near one end of the adjusting screw 36. The arm 67 extends in substantially the same direction as the adjusting screw 36, and is engaged by the cam surface 69 on the adjusting nut 38. Therefore, when the adjusting screw is rotated to move the adjusting nut 3` towards and away from the shaft 24, the arm 67 is rotated due to the arrangement of the Cain surface 69 on the adjusting nut 38. The spring 54 always tends to rotate the bell crank 52 in such a direction as to press the arm 65 agains th sector plate 62, the pins 63 permitting the sector plate to have movement towards and from the arm 22. The sector plate is for the purpose of maintaining proper operative connection between the arms 67 and 65 at all times during oscillation of the arm 22. It will be seen that when the arm 67 is rocked about its pivot, the bell crank will also be rocked about its pivot due to the operative connection between the arm 67 and the arm 65 of the bell crank 52. Rocking the bell crank causes the supports 47 to rotate to bring different portions of the surfaces of the vspherical members 56 into. engagement with the driving and driven elements28 and 13. This causes a variation in the speed of rotation of the member 13. Since it is necessaryto move the nut 38 in order to rock the arm 67 about its pivot, it will be seen .that as the nut is shifted the speed of rotation of the member 13 is varied and also that the shifting of the position of the nut 38 causes a change in the amplitude of the oscillating movement of the arm 22. In other words, varying the amplitude of oscillation of the arm 22 varies the speed of rotation of the member 13, and consequently varies the number of oscillations per unit of time for the arm 22.

In Fig. 5, the cam surface 70 on nut 38 causes the arm 71 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction when the block is moved vertically upward by means cf the feed screw 36. This causes a counter-clockwise movement of the bell crank 52 (as viewed in Fig. 2) which movement of the bell crank causes the members 56 to be rotated into the dotted line position 60 in the manner previously described. As the members 56 are moved into the dotted line positions 60, the distances from the points of contact between the member 28 and the spherical members 56 to the axes of rotation of the members 56 are increased, whereas the distances from the points of contact between the member 13 and the spherical members 56 to the center of rotation of the members 56 are decreased. This arrangement of the change speed driving mechanism is such that the members 56 rotate at a lower speed than when in the full line position and as' a result'the member 13 has its speed decreased partly because of the decrease in the speed of rotation of the members 56 and partly due to the fact that the member 13 contacts with the spherical surfaces on the members 56 along lines which are circles of less radii than the circles forming the contact lines between the member 13 and the members 56whle in the full line position.

Thus it will be seen that as thenut 38 isA moved towards the axis of oscillation of the arm 22, the speed of rotation of the member 13 is 'decreased and therefore the number of reciprocations of the link 39 and the number of oscillations of the arm 22 per vunit of time are decreased also. However, moving the nut 33 towards the axis of oscillation oi the arm 22 causes an increase in the amplitude of the oscillating movement of the arm 22. By this arrangement it will be seen that an increase in the amplitude of the oscillations of the arm 22 will cause a decrease in the number of oscillations per unit of time.

As the nut 38 however, is moved downwardly as viewed in Fig. 5 just the opposite result takes place. That is, the amplitude of the oscillations is decreased while the speed of rotation of the member 13 is increased to give a correspondingly increased number of oscillations per unit of time to the arm 22.

With the arrangement just described, one is enabled to maintain the lineal speed of the shaft 25 along its oscillating path substantially the same for short oscillations as for long oscillations of the arm 22, although it is not necessary that this exact relation take place. However, with substances which are quite narrow, the object is to increase the number of oscillations per unit of time at least to such an extent that with a short stroke of the arm 22, the lineal speed of the shaft 22 will not be so slow as compared to its speed on long strokes as to render the cutting of narrow substances uneconomical.

It will be seen that applicants invention is such as to render it possible to simultaneously vary the number of oscillations per unit of time and the amplitude of oscillation thereby effecting a very economical utilization of the power necessary to drive the machine and of the time required to eiriciently cut the substance being sliced.

The arm 22 is provided with a handle '72 which enables one to reciprocate the arm 22 by manual means if desired. A spring 73 presses against anabutment '74, and the arm 9 to normally hold the roller 11 against the cam surface 12.

If desired, I may provide yielding means for urging the supports 47 towards each other to thereby maintain more eiiicient frictional contact between the spherical members 56 and the driving and driven members 28 and 13 respectively. I also wish to have it understood that any other form of change speed mechanism may be used between the members 28 and 13 and that I may operate such change speed mechanism by means similar to that shown in the drawings or by any other suitable means.

Driving mechanism similar to that shown in thisapplication is shown and claimed in my Patent Number 1,878,068, granted September 26, 1932, but in that application there is no disclosure of the subject matter covered by the claims in this application. Gbviously those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various changes in the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope cf the claims hereto appended. Y

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United tates is:

1. In a slicing machine the combination with a substance support, of a rotatable slicing knife adapted to reciprocate relatively to said support, and means for varying the number of reciprocations per unit of time without substantially changing the linear speed of movement of said knife over its path of reciproeation or without materially changing the speed of rotation of said knife about its axis. l

2. A slicing machine comprising an arm, a rotatable knife on said arm, a driving means for said rotatable knife, means for oscillating said arm, means for driving said oscillating means and for determining the number of oscillations thereof per unit of time, and a single means for varying the said last mentioned means to simultaneously change the number of oscillations per unit of time and for changing the extent of the oscillations of said arm.

3. In a slicing machine the combination with a rotatable crank, an oscillating arm carrying a slicing knife, a pitman operatively connecting said arm and said crank, change speed mechanism for driving said crank from a source of power, and means for simultaneously varying the extent of the oscillating movement imparted to said arm by said pitman and crank and the speed of rotation imparted to said crank by said change speed mechanism.

4. In a slicing machine the combination with a driving and driven element, a pair of spherical members rotatable on angularly displaceable spindles, said spherical members having engagement with said driving and driven elements, a crank rotated by said driven element, an oscillating arm carrying a slicing knife, an adjusting screw rotatably mounted on said arm, a nut operatively engaging said screw, a pitman connecting said nut and said crank, means for varying the angular position of said spindles to thereby vary the rotative movement imparted to said driven element, and means for actuating said last mentioned means when said nut is moved relatively to said arm by said screw.

5. In a slicing machine the combination with a swinging arm of a knife rotatably carried by said arm, means for oscillating said knife, and means for varying the extent of said oscillation and for varying the number of oscillations per unit of time, said last mentioned means being operative to change the extent of the oscillations and the number of oscillations per unit of time Without ailecting the rotative speed of said knife.

6. A slicing machine comprising a member, a rotatable knife on said member, a driving means for rotating said knife, means for reciprocating said member, means for actuating said reciprocating means, and means for determining the number of reciprocations of said member per unit of time, and a single means for varying both of said last mentioned means to simultaneously change the number of reciprocations per unit of time and for changing the extent of the reciprocations of said member.

7. In a slicing machine, the combination with a rotatable driving element, of a rotatable driven element, change speed mechanism between said driving and driven elements, a crank rotatable by said driven element, a pivoted arm carrying a knife, means for connecting said pivoted arm With said crank eccentrically of its pivot, said crank causing reciprocation of said arm about its pivot, means for varying the extent of the reciprocation of said arm about its pivot, and means for simultaneously changing said change speed mechanism.

8. In a slicing machine, the combination With a driving and a driven element, a spherical member rotatable on an angularly displaceable spindle, said spherical member having engagement with said driving and driven elements, a crank rotated by said driven element, an oscillating arm carrying a slicing knife, a member on said arm adjustable to and from the pivot for said arm, a link connecting said crank and said adjustable member, means for varying the angular position of said spindle to thereby vary the rotative movement imparted to said driven element, and means for substantially simultaneously actuating said means for varying the angular position of said spindle to thereby change the angular position of said spindle if and when said adjustable member is moved relative to said arm to and from the pivot thereof.

9. In a slicing machine, the combination With a pivoted arm, a member on said arm movable to and from the pivot thereof, a crank for rotating said arm, a pitman connected to said member and crank, change speed mechanism for rotating said crank, means for moving said member to and from the pivot of the aforesaid arm, and means operable by said member for varying said change speed mechanism.

10. In a slicing machine, the combination with a pivoted arm, a member on said arm movable to and from the pivot thereof, a crank for rotating said arm, a pitman connected to said member and crank, change speed mechanism for rotating said crank, means for moving said member to and from the pivot of the aforesaid arm, and means operable by said member for varying said change speed mechanism comprising a pivoted operating arm connected to said change speed mechanism, and a cam surface on said rst mentioned member engaging said pivoted member for actuating said .change speed mechanism.

11. In a slicing machine, the combination of a pivoted arm, a member adjustable along said arm toward and from the pivot for said arm, a crank, a pitman connecting said crank and member, a change speed mechanism for varying the speed of rotation of said crank to thereby vary the number of oscillations of said arm about its pivot, a means for driving said crank through said change speed mechanism, operating means for said change speed mechanism, means for moving said member toward and from the pivot for said arm, said operating member for said change speed mechanism contacting with said member on said arm and adapted to be actuated thereby as the same is moved toward and from the pivot for said arm to increase the speed of rotation of said crank When said member on said arm is moved away from said pivot, and to decrease the speed of rotation of said crank when said member on said arm is moved in a direction toward said pivot.

12. In a slicing machine, the combination of a pivoted arm, a member adjustable along said arm toward and from the pivot for said arm, a crank, a pitman connecting said crank and member, a change speed mechanism for varyingfthe speed of rotation of said crank to thereby rvary the number of oscillations of said arm about its pivot, a means for driving said crank through said change speed mechanism, operating means for said change speed mechanism, means for moving said member toward and from the pivot for said arm, said operating member for said change speed mechanism contacting with said member on said arm and adapted to be actuated thereby as the same is moved toward and from the pivot for said arm to decrease the speed of rotation of said crank when said member on said arm is moved away from said pivot and to increase the speed of rotation of said crank when said member on said arm is moved in a direction toward said pivot.

13. A device as claimed in claim 11 in which the speed mechanism comprises a spherical member rotatable upon an adjustable axis, and having means for varying the angular position of said axis to bring different portions thereof into contact with a means for driving said crank and in which driving means are provided for engaging said spherical surface of said spherical member to drive said spherical member in all positions of adjustment thereof.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12 in which the speed mechanism comprises a spherical member rotatable upon an adjustable axis, and having means for varying the angular position of said axis to bring different portions thereof into contact with a means for driving said crank and in which driving means are provided for engaging said spherical surface of said spherical member to drive said spherical member in all positions of adjustment thereof.

15. In a slicing machine, the combination With an oscillating arm, of an adjusting member movably mounted on said arm, a member actuated by said rst mentioned member, a rotatable crank pin, change speed mechanism for rotating said crank pin, operative connections between said crank pin and said second mentioned member, means for varying the position of said second mentioned member by the actuation of said first contact with said driving andA driven elements, and means for varying the angular position of said axis so that said driving and driven elements engage different portions of said spherical surface and change the relative speeds of said driving and driven elements through a wide range of speeds varying by small increments.

WILHELMUS ADRIANUS VAN BERKEL. 

